Authentication processing device for performing authentication processing

ABSTRACT

The present invention is to enable a user to input authentication information without burden, such that the user only has to memorize part of the authentication information even when inputting lengthy authentication information in order to ensure high-level security. When an operation of inputting and arranging authentication information in an information arrangement region is performed in a state where an arrangement status of a specified portion in the information arrangement region is set in advance as partial-authentication reference information in a reference authentication information memory, a CPU detects an arrangement status of the specified portion from an overall arrangement status in the information arrangement region, and performs, as partial authentication, processing of matching the detected arrangement status of the specified portion and the arrangement status of the specified portion set as the partial-authentication reference information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/221,019, filed Mar. 20, 2014, which claims the benefit of the filing date of Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-060091, filed Mar. 22, 2013, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an authentication processing device which performs authentication processing according to inputted authentication information.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, in an information processing device such as a PC (personal computer), a tablet terminal device, or a portable terminal device, when authentication processing such as identity verification is performed, a passphrase with a large number of characters is used, among passwords (authentication information) for use in authentication, whereby high-level security can be achieved and a significant reduction of the danger of violating authentication can be expected. However, the large number of characters disadvantageously makes it difficult for a user to remember the passphrase.

To overcome this disadvantage, a technology has been conventionally provided in which, even if a four-digit password is used, security can be enhanced by setting the input positions and the input sequence of characters in the password in advance (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) Publication No. 2000-339084).

In the above-described technology, in the case of a password with a large number of digits such as a passphrase, a user has to memorize the input positions and the input sequence of the digits and input the password by recalling the input position and the input sequence for each digit. This puts a great burden on the user. Conversely, when the number of digits of the password is small, if a third party steals a glance at or secretly photographs the password with the last digit inputted, there is a danger that authentication is violated after repeating input errors several times.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is to enable a user to input authentication information without burden, such that the user only has to memorize part of the authentication information even when inputting lengthy authentication information in order to ensure high-level security.

An object of the present invention is to provide an authentication processing device which performs authentication processing in response to an operation of inputting and arranging a predetermined number of pieces of information forming authentication information in a predetermined arrangement region, the device comprising: a setting section which sets, as authentication reference information, an arrangement status in an arbitrarily specified portion by an information arrangement status in the predetermined arrangement region; a detecting section which detects an arrangement status of the specified portion from an overall arrangement status in the predetermined arrangement region when the operation of inputting and arranging the predetermined number of pieces of information forming the authentication information in the predetermined arrangement region is performed; and a partial authenticating section which performs processing, as partial authentication, of matching the arrangement status of the specified portion detected by the detecting section and the arrangement status of the specified portion set as the reference information by the setting section.

According to the present invention, even when inputting lengthy authentication information is inputted in order to ensure high-level security, the user only has to memorize part of the authentication information, and whereby the user can input the authentication information without burden. Thus, both security and operability can be satisfied.

The above and further objects and novel features of the present invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of basic components of a tablet terminal device in which the present invention has been applied as an authentication processing device;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an input screen when authentication information is inputted and arranged on a touch display section 5;

FIG. 3A is a diagram of a state where all numerical values of nine digits are arranged in the input screen as authentication information;

FIG. 3B is a diagram schematically depicting an arrangement sequence when numerical values of nine digits in a string are arranged one after another each with a time delay;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing a reference authentication information memory 3 c;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing an information arrangement memory 3 d;

FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing a partial authentication method memory 3 e;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of processing of setting content of the reference authentication information memory 3 c;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of authentication processing;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an operation subsequent to FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for describing details of processing of obtaining information from the information arrangement memory 3 d at partial authentication.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 10.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of basic components of a portable terminal device (tablet terminal device) in which the present invention has been applied as an authentication processing device.

A CPU 1 is a central processing unit which operates with power supplied from a power supply section (secondary battery) 2 and controls the entire operation of this tablet terminal device according to various programs in a storage section 3. The storage section 3 is structured to include, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a flash memory. The storage section 3 further includes a program memory 3 a which stores a program and various applications for achieving the present embodiment according to operation procedures depicted in FIG. 7 to FIG. 10, a work memory 3 b which temporarily stores various information (for example, a flag) required for this tablet terminal device to operate, a reference authentication information memory 3 c, an information arrangement memory 3 d, and a partial authentication method memory 3 e, which will be described further below.

The storage section 3 may be structured to include, for example, a removable portable memory (recording medium) such as an SD (Secure Digital) card or an IC (Integrated Circuit) card and, although not shown, may be structured to include a storage region on a predetermined server device side in a state where the storage section 3 is connected to a network via a communication function. An operating section 4 includes a power supply key for turning power supply ON/OFF as a push-button key, although not shown. A touch display section 5 forms a touch screen such that a touch panel 5 b is arranged to be laminated on a display panel 5 a. Note that, although a capacitive type or a resistive film type is adopted in this embodiment, another type may be adopted.

Also note that a touch operation is not limited to a contact operation by a finger or pen making direct contact with the touch panel 5 b, and may include, for example, as an operation similar to the contact operation, a non-contact operation for which the position of a finger or pen is detected based on changes in capacitance or brightness due to the approach or the approach and movement of the finger or pen.

That is, the touch panel is not limited to be of a contact-type touch panel which detects a contact operation but may be a non-contact-type touch panel or an operation detecting device which detects a non-contact operation. In the present embodiment, however, the case of a contact operation on the contact-type touch panel is exemplarily described as the touch operation. A wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communication section 6 is a wireless communication module that can perform high-speed large-capacity communication and can be connected to the Internet via a nearest wireless LAN router (not shown).

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an input screen when authentication information is inputted and arranged on the touch display section 5.

An authentication information input screen on the touch display section 5 has an information list region LT and information arrangement region AR for use in inputting authentication information and the like. The information list region LT is a screen for list display of information of each digit (in the depicted example, numerical values from “1” to “9”) forming authentication information of a plurality of digits. Each of the numerical value “1” to “9” is formed of a movable rectangular small piece portion (a numerical value part) P.

Here, as selecting any numerical value part P from among the numerical value parts P from “1” to “9”, the user performs a touch operation corresponding to a drag-and-drop mouse operation (an operation of moving while touching and then leaving) to move the numerical value part P. In this manner, the user arranges the selected numerical value parts P one after another in any areas on the information arrangement region AR to sequentially input authentication information.

The information arrangement region AR is adjacent to the information list region LT, and has rectangular areas A to I obtained by sectioning in, for example, a three-by-three matrix. These rectangular areas A to I are arrangement areas where the numerical value parts P moved from the information list region LT by the drag-and-drop operation are arranged. On a lower side of the information arrangement region AR, an enter button (a touch key) “OK” is arranged, which is operated when authentication information of all digits are completely inputted (arranged).

In FIG. 2, information of nine digits in a numerical value string is exemplarily described as the authentication information (passphrase). However, the number of digits may be more than nine. Also, the authentication information is not limited to numerical values, but may include alphabetic characters.

FIG. 3A is a diagram exemplarily depicting a state where the all numerical values P from “1” to “9” are arranged in the arrangement areas A to I forming the information arrangement region AR.

In the example of FIG. 3A, the numerical value of “2” is arranged in the arrangement area A on the first row and first column, the numerical value of “7” is arranged in the arrangement area B on the first row and second column, the numerical value of “4” is arranged in the arrangement area C on the first row and third column, the numerical value of “9” is arranged in the arrangement area D on the second row and first column, the numerical value of “1” is arranged in the arrangement area E on the second row and second column, the numerical value of “6” is arranged in the arrangement area F on the second row and third column, the numerical value of “5” is arranged in the arrangement area G on the third row and first column, the numerical value of “3” is arranged in the arrangement area H on the third row and second column, and the numerical value of “8” is arranged in the arrangement area I on the third row and third column.

FIG. 3B is a diagram schematically depicting an arrangement sequence when nine numerical value parts P are arranged one after another each with a time delay. An arrow in FIG. 3B indicates a chronological order as an arrangement sequence (a so-called Z-order front-back relation).

In the example of FIG. 3B, firstly, the numerical values of “5”, “3”, and then “8” are sequentially arranged in the arrangement areas G, H, and I, respectively. Next, the numerical values of “9”, “1”, and then “6” are sequentially arranged in the arrangement areas D, E, and F, respectively. Furthermore, the numerical values of “2”, “7”, and then “4” are sequentially arranged in the arrangement areas A, B, and C, respectively. In this manner, in the information arrangement region AR, pieces of information can be arranged in a three-dimensional coordinate system with a column direction being taken as a Y axis, a row direction being taken as an X axis, and a Z-order front-back direction being taken as a Z axis.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing the reference authentication information memory 3 c.

The reference authentication information memory 3 c is a memory which stores matching-reference authentication information (reference information) arbitrarily set in advance by user operation, and has an overall authentication region 3 c 1, an arrangement exclusion confirmation region 3 c 2, and a partial authentication region 3 c 3.

The overall authentication region 3 c 1 is a region for storing all digits (for example, nine digits) as matching-reference authentication information for performing overall authentication (overall-authentication reference information, or a reference password). The CPU 1 sequentially matches and compares, for each digit, authentication information for all digits inputted and arranged on the information arrangement region AR and the reference information for all digits arbitrarily set in advance in this overall authentication region 3 c 1 to perform authentication processing (overall authentication) such as identity verification.

As a result of overall authentication, if the information for all digits including their sequence coincides with that of the reference information, authentication OK (positive) is judged. If there is a difference regarding even one digit, authentication NG (negative) is judged. In the example of FIG. 4, “538916274” is set as overall-authentication reference information.

The arrangement exclusion confirmation region 3 c 2 is a region where information is set indicating that it is excluded to input and arrange information arbitrarily specified in advance in an arrangement area arbitrarily specified in advance. For example, the information is set indicating that the input of the numerical value in the arrangement area A is regarded as valid, when the numerical value other than the numerical value of “1” is inputted, but the input of the numerical value of “1” therein is regarded as invalid, when the numerical value of “1” is inputted.

In the arrangement exclusion confirmation region 3 c 2, the information indicating arrangement exclusion is not limited to one type, but a plurality of types of arrangement exclusion may be set. Also, the setting is not limited to the case where one arrangement area and one target numerical value are set, but may be such that one arrangement area and two target numerical values may be set. Furthermore, the target numerical value is not limited to a target numerical value whose input is regarded as invalid, but may be a numerical value whose input is regarded as valid. In the example described above, numerical values other than the numerical value of “1” may be set.

The partial authentication region 3 c 3 is a region where matching-reference authentication information for performing partial authentication (partial-authentication reference information), which is a concept opposed to the above-described overall authentication, is arbitrarily set in advance by user operation. Here, in the present embodiment, partial authentication is authentication processing started on condition that the processing result is judged as negative (authentication NG) as a result of the above-described overall authentication. By an information arrangement status in the information arrangement region AR, the arrangement status in a specified portion (a plurality of arrangement areas) arbitrarily specified by user operation is set in the partial authentication region 3 c 3 as partial-authentication reference information.

In a state where information (numerical values) is inputted and arranged in all arrangement areas A to I of the information arrangement region AR at the time of the above-described overall authentication, the CPU 1 detects the arrangement status of the specified portion of the information arrangement region AR, and performs partial authentication processing, in which matching and comparison are performed to judge whether the detected arrangement status coincides with the arrangement status set in the partial authentication region 3 c 3 as partial-authentication reference information.

That is, the partial authentication region 3 c 3 is a region for storing the arrangement status of a portion from an overall arrangement status included in the overall-authentication reference information as partial-authentication reference information, and has items of “information content”, “arrangement area”, and “arrangement ordinal level” as elements indicating the arrangement status.

“Information content” is an item in which information with a plurality of digits (for example, three digits), smaller in number than the overall-authentication reference information (the total number of digits: nine digits), are set as information serving as targets for partial authentication.

“Arrangement area” is an item in which a plurality of (for example, three) arrangement areas, smaller in number than the digits of the overall-authentication reference information (the total number of digits: nine digits), are set as information serving as target areas for partial authentication from an overall arrangement status included in the overall-authentication reference information.

“Arrangement ordinal level” is an item in which the following area arrangement ordinal levels are set: an arrangement ordinal level for information indicating at which ordinal level the information set in “information content” is arranged; or an arrangement ordinal level for area indicating at which ordinal level any information is arranged in the area set in “arrangement area”.

In the example of FIG. 4, information of any three digits (numerical values of “5”, “6”, and “7”) from among nine digits forming the overall-authentication reference information is taken as a partial authentication target, and the arrangement status defining the following is set as partial-authentication reference information: among these pieces of information of three digits, the numerical value of “5” is initially (firstly) arranged in the arrangement area G, the numerical value of “6” is next (secondly) arranged in the arrangement area F, and the numerical value of “7” is lastly (thirdly) arranged in the arrangement area B.

As a matter of course, the information serving as a partial authentication target is not limited to the numerical values of “5”, “6”, and “7”, and any information can be set. Furthermore, the information may have two digits, four digits, or the like. Similarly, the arrangement areas are not limited to G, F, and B, and any areas can be set.

As described above, in the partial authentication region 3 c 3, the elements of “information content”, “arrangement area”, and “arrangement ordinal level” indicating an arrangement status of a part in the information arrangement region AR can be set in association with each other as partial-authentication reference information. Alternatively, any two of these elements may be combined and set as partial-authentication reference information.

For example, in the information of three digits, when a combination of “arrangement area” and “arrangement ordinal level” in association with each other is set as partial-authentication reference information, an arrangement status defining that any information is initially arranged in the arrangement area G, any other information is next arranged in the arrangement area F, and any other information is lastly arranged in the arrangement area B regardless of “information content” is set as partial-authentication reference information.

Also, in the case of a combination of “information content” and “arrangement ordinal level” in association with each other, an arrangement status defining that the numerical value of “5” is initially arranged, the numerical value of “6” is next arranged, and the numerical value of “7” is lastly arranged regardless of “arrangement area” is set as partial-authentication reference information.

Furthermore, in the case of a combination of “information content” and “arrangement area” in association with each other, an arrangement status defining that the numerical value “5” is arranged in the arrangement area G, the numerical value “6” is arranged in the arrangement area F, and the numerical value “7” is arranged in the arrangement area B regardless of “arrangement ordinal number” is set as partial-authentication reference information.

The above-described “arrangement ordinal level” indicates a partial rank indicating an ordinal level of each target in an alignment of the partial authentication targets included in “information content” or “arrangement area”. For example, as an arrangement ordinal level in the information of any three digits (for example, the numerical values “5”, “6”, and “7”) among nine digits in total, the arrangement ordinal level indicates an ordinal level (any of a first to third levels) in three numerical values “5”, “6”, and “7” (a partial rank).

In this partial rank, for example, even if an overall rank of the numerical value of “5” is a sixth level, the numerical value of “5” is at a first level among the numerical values of “5”, “6”, and “7” in the partial-authentication target, regardless of the overall rank. While the partial rank is taken as partial-authentication reference information in the above-described example of “arrangement ordinal level”, the present invention is not limited thereto. As “arrangement ordinal level”, an overall rank may be taken indicating an ordinal level of each partial authentication target included in “information content” or “arrangement area” in an alignment of a predetermined total number of pieces of authentication information as a whole.

For example, as “arrangement ordinal level”, an overall rank may be taken indicating an ordinal level (of first to ninth levels) of each of the numerical values of “5”, “6”, and “7” set as a partial authentication target with respect to the authentication information as a whole.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing the information arrangement memory 3 d.

The information arrangement memory 3 d is a memory which temporarily stores an arrangement status of each digit of the authentication information arranged in the information arrangement region AR, and has “arrangement ordinal level”, “information content”, and “arrangement area”. In FIG. 5, an arrow direction indicates a chronological order as an arrangement sequence (a so-called Z-order front-back relation). “Arrangement ordinal level” of “No. 1” to “No. 9” indicates an overall rank (any of first to ninth levels) at which ordinal level the information content is arranged with respect to all digits.

In FIG. 5, a double circle added in the margin indicates that the item is a partial authentication target set as the above-described partial-authentication reference information, and an asterisk indicates that the item is a target for the above-described arrangement exclusion confirmation.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing the partial authentication method memory 3 e.

The partial authentication method memory 3 e is a memory for specifying a partial authentication method arbitrarily selected in advance from among a plurality of types of partial authentication methods with different partial authentication methodologies, and has items of “partial authentication method” and “selected”. “Partial authentication method” is an item that defines the authentication method, and has seven types of partial authentication methods in the present embodiment. From among these methods, any one partial authentication method can be selected by user operation.

These seven types of partial authentication methods are set according to a combination status of how two or more elements (two elements or three elements) are combined from among the elements of “arrangement area”, “information content”, and “arrangement ordinal level (partial rank or overall rank)”. A double circle in “selected” indicates that this partial authentication method is the one arbitrarily selected and specified in advance by user operation.

A type of “1” indicates a method of performing partial authentication by combining elements of “arrangement area”, “information content”, and “arrangement ordinal level (partial rank)”. A type of “2” indicates a method of performing partial authentication by combining elements of “arrangement area” and “arrangement ordinal level (partial rank)”, and a type of “3” indicates a method of performing partial authentication by combing elements of “information content” and “arrangement ordinal level (partial rank)”. Also, a type of “4” indicates a method of performing partial authentication by combining elements of “arrangement area”, “information content”, and “arrangement ordinal level (overall rank)”. Similarly, a type of “5” indicates a method of performing partial authentication by combining elements of “arrangement area” and “arrangement ordinal level (overall rank)”, and a type of “6” indicates a method of performing partial authentication by combining elements of “information content” and “arrangement ordinal level (overall rank)”. Furthermore, a type of “7” indicates a method of performing partial authentication by combining elements of “arrangement area” and “information content”.

As described above, the authentication processing device (tablet terminal device) of the present embodiment is an authentication processing device which performs authentication processing in response to an operation of inputting and arranging a predetermined number of pieces (for example, nine digits) of information forming authentication information (for example, a long passphrase) in a predetermined arrangement region (the information arrangement region AR on the touch display section 5).

The authentication processing device includes: setting means (the CPU 1, the program memory 3 a, and the partial authentication region 3 c 3) which sets, as authentication reference information (partial-authentication reference information), an arrangement status in an arbitrarily specified portion by an information arrangement status in the predetermined arrangement region; detection means (the CPU 1, the program memory 3 a, and the information arrangement memory 3 d) which detects an arrangement status of the specified portion from an overall arrangement status in the predetermined arrangement region when the operation of inputting and arranging the predetermined number of pieces of information forming the authentication information in the predetermined arrangement region (for example, a drag-and-drop operation from the information list region LT) is performed, and partial authentication means (the CPU 1, the program memory 3 a, and partial authentication region 3 c 3) which performs processing, as partial authentication, of matching the arrangement status of the specified portion detected by the detection means and the arrangement status of the specified portion set as the reference information by the setting means.

Next, the operation concept of the authentication processing device (tablet terminal device) in the present embodiment is described with reference to flowcharts depicted in FIG. 7 to FIG. 10. Here, each function described in these flowcharts is stored in a readable program code format, and operations based on these program codes are sequentially performed.

Also, operations which follow the above-described program code, the operations transmitted via a transmission medium such as a network, can be sequentially performed. That is, by using not only a recording medium but also a program/data externally supplied via the transmission medium can be used to perform operations unique to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 to FIG. 10 are flowcharts of an operation summary of a feature portion of the present embodiment in an overall operation of the authentication processing device. After exiting these flows of FIG. 7 to FIG. 10, the CPU 1 returns to a main flow (not shown) of the overall operation.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of processing of setting content of the reference authentication information memory 3 c.

Firstly, when authentication information setting processing is specified by user operation, the CPU 1 causes an authentication information input screen as depicted in FIG. 2 to be displayed on the touch display section 5 (Step A1). By using the information list region LT and the information arrangement region AR in this input screen, the user performs an operation of selecting a numerical value part P from the information list region LT and sequentially moving the numerical value part P from the first digit to the information arrangement region AR (a touch operation corresponding to a drag-and-drop mouse operation) to input numerical values forming overall-authentication reference information, and then operates the enter button OK (Step A2).

After that, the CPU 1 counts the number of digits of the overall-authentication reference information inputted and arranged in the information arrangement region AR (Step A3), and performs processing of setting the overall-authentication reference information and the number of digits thereof in the overall authentication region 3 c 1 of the reference authentication information memory 3 c (Step A4). The CPU 1 then initializes the authentication information input screen to the original state (a vacant state before input and arrangement) (Step A5).

Next, the CPU 1 judges whether an instruction for setting arrangement exclusion information has been made by user operation (Step A6), judges whether an instruction for setting partial-authentication reference information has been made (Step A10), and judges whether an instruction for ending all settings has been made (Step A11). Here, if an instruction for setting arrangement exclusion information has been made by user operation (YES at Step A6), the CPU 1 proceeds to the next Steps A7 to A9.

In this case, when an operation of moving the numerical values to the information arrangement region AR (Step A7), that is, when the user performs the operation of selecting a numerical value part P to be set as an input-invalid target from the information list region LT and moving the selected part to an arrangement area in the information arrangement region AR in the initial state where no information is arranged in the information arrangement region AR, the CPU 1 performs processing of setting information obtained by associating the arrangement area and the numerical value as an input-invalid target with each other in the arrangement exclusion confirmation region 3 c 2 of the reference authentication information memory 3 c (Step A8). The CPU 1 then initializes the authentication information input screen to the original state (a vacant state before input and arrangement) (Step A9). Also, when an instruction for setting partial-authentication reference information has been made by user operation (YES at Step A10), the CPU 1 proceeds to the next Steps A12 to A19. In this case, when an operation of moving a numerical value, which is one piece of the partial-authentication reference information, to the information arrangement region AR (Step A12), that is, when the user performs the operation of selecting a numerical value part P as a partial authentication target from the information list region LT and moving the selected part to an arrangement area in the information arrangement region AR, the CPU 1 identifies which information (numerical value) has been specified as the partial authentication target (Step A13) and identifies which arrangement area has been specified as the partial authentication target (Step A14).

The CPU 1 then judges whether head information for partial authentication has been arranged (Step A15). If the head information has been arranged (YES at Step A15), the initial value of the arrangement ordinal level (partial rank) is set as “1” (Step A16). If information other than the head information has been arranged (NO at Step A15), the CPU 1 performs processing of adding “1” to the arrangement ordinal level (partial rank) (Step A17).

In this manner, after obtaining “arrangement ordinal level (partial rank)”, the CPU 1 performs processing of setting “information (numerical value) content” identified at Step A13, “arrangement area” identified at Step A14, and “arrangement ordinal level (partial rank)” in association with each other in the partial authentication region 3 c 3 of the reference authentication information memory 3 c (Step A18).

When setting the one piece of the partial-authentication reference information is finished, the CPU 1 judges whether settings of all pieces of the partial-authentication reference information are ended (Step A19). Hereinafter, the CPU 1 repeats the above-described operation by returning to Step A12 until settings are ended.

When all pieces of the partial-authentication reference information have been inputted and arranged (YES at Step A19), the CPU 1 exits the flow of FIG. 7. Additionally, if an instruction for not setting partial-authentication reference information has been made by user operation (NO at Step A10), the CPU 1 proceeds to Step A11. Then, if an instruction for ending all settings has been made (YES at Step A11), the CPU 1 exits the flow of FIG. 7. If not (NO at Step A11), the CPU 1 returns to Step A6.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are flowcharts of authentication processing.

Firstly, the CPU 1 causes an authentication information input screen as depicted in FIG. 2 to be displayed on the touch display section 5 (Step B1 of FIG. 8). By using the information list region LT and the information arrangement region AR in this input screen, the user performs an operation of selecting numerical value parts P as arrangement targets from the information list region LT and touching and moving these parts to the information arrangement region AR to input and arrange authentication information for all digits.

For example, to sequentially arrange “538916274” as authentication information for all digits (nine digits) one by one, the CPU 1 performs an operation of initially touching the head numerical value part P of “5” and moving the part to the information arrangement region AR, arranging the part in the arrangement area of this information arrangement region AR, and then releasing the touch.

Here, the CPU 1 judges whether an information moving operation has started (whether any numerical value part P has been touched) (Step B2), judges whether a moving flag (not shown) has been set ON (whether the numerical part P is moving) (Step B5), and judges whether a movement end operation has been performed (whether the touch has been released from the numerical value part P) (Step B7).

Here, upon detection of the start of an information moving operation (YES at Step B2), the CPU 1 identifies information content (numerical value of “5”) of the numerical value part P subjected to a touch operation (Step B3), and then sets the moving flag (not shown) ON to indicate that the numerical value part P is moving (Step B4).

Then, upon detection of the moving flag being ON (YES at Step B5), the CPU 1 continues the processing of moving the numerical value part P (Step B6). Then, upon detection of a movement end operation (YES at Step B7), the CPU 1 identifies the arrangement area of the information arrangement region AR where the numerical value part P is arranged (Step B8), and judges whether head information forming authentication information has been arranged (Step B9).

If the head information has been arranged (YES at Step B9), the initial value of the arrangement ordinal level (overall rank) is set as “1” (Step B10). If information other than the head information has been arranged (NO at Step B9), the CPU 1 performs processing of adding “1” to the arrangement ordinal level (overall rank) (Step B11).

In this manner, after obtaining “arrangement ordinal level (overall rank)”, the CPU 1 performs processing of storing “information content” identified at Step B3 and “arrangement area” identified at Step B8 in the information arrangement memory 3 d with respect to the “arrangement ordinal level (overall rank)” (Step B12).

The CPU 1 then judges whether the enter button OK has been operated, that is, whether authentication information for all digits (nine digits) has been arranged (Step B13). Initially, only the head numerical value has been set (NO at Step B13), whereby the CPU 1 returns to Step B2, waiting for the next information moving operation.

Whereas, when the authentication information for all digits (nine digits) has been arranged and the enter button OK has been operated (YES at Step B13), the CPU 1 proceeds to the flow of FIG. 9, and obtains information of “arrangement ordinal level”, “information content” and “arrangement area” from the information arrangement memory 3 d (Step B14).

Then, prior to authentication processing, the CPU 1 performs processing of referring to the arrangement exclusion confirmation region 3 c 2 of the reference authentication information memory 3 c and confirming whether information relevant to arrangement exclusion is included in the obtained information (Step B15).

For example, when the arrangement area A and an input-invalid target numerical value of “1” are associated with each other as arrangement exclusion information, the CPU 1 judges whether the numerical value of “1” is arranged in the arrangement area A. As a result, when the numerical value of “1” is arranged in the arrangement area A, that is, when arrangement exclusion information is included (YES at Step B16), the CPU 1 takes the authentication result as negative (authentication NG) to invalidate the entire input of the authentication information arranged in the information arrangement region AR, and then exits the flows of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9.

When a numerical value other than the numerical value of “1” is arranged in the arrangement area A, that is, when arrangement exclusion information is not included (NO at Step B16), the CPU 1 proceeds to all-digits authentication processing (Steps B17 to B19). First, the CPU 1 accesses the overall authentication region 3 c 1 of the reference authentication information memory 3 c to obtain overall-authentication reference information (for all digits) (Step B17), then matches and compares the obtained reference information and “information content” obtained for “arrangement ordinal level” from the information arrangement memory 3 d (Step B18), and then judges whether all digits coincides with the reference information (Step B19).

As a result, if all-digits coincidence has been detected and it has been confirmed that correct authentication information has been inputted and arranged (YES at Step B19), the overall authentication result is positive (authentication OK), and the CPU 1 exits the flows of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9.

On the other hand, as a result of overall authentication, if it is detected that not all of the digits coincide with the reference information or that even one digit does not coincide with the reference information (NO at Step B19), the result of overall authentication is negative (authentication NG). On condition that the result of overall authentication is negative, the CPU 1 proceeds to partial authentication processing (Steps B20 to B26). Firstly, the CPU 1 refers to the partial authentication method memory 3 e (Step B20) to judge the type of the partial authentication method selected and specified in advance (Step B21).

The CPU 1 then refers to the partial authentication region 3 c 3 of the reference authentication information memory 3 c (Step B22) and obtains the partial-authentication authentication information from the information arrangement memory 3 d according to the judged type of the partial authentication method (Step B23).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for describing details of processing of obtaining partial-authentication authentication information from the information arrangement memory 3 d according to the type of the partial authentication method (Step B23 of FIG. 9).

The CPU 1 firstly judges whether the judged type of the partial authentication method is “No. 1” or “No. 4” in the partial authentication method memory 3 e (Step C1). When the selected partial authentication method is “No. 1” or “No. 4” (YES at Step C1), the CPU 1 refers to the partial authentication region 3 c 3 of the reference authentication information memory 3 c and obtains “arrangement ordinal level”, “arrangement area”, and “information content” as elements relevant to partial-authentication reference information from the information arrangement region AR (Step C2).

For example, in the case where the settings in the partial authentication region 3 c 3 are as depicted in FIG. 4, the CPU 1 obtains “information contents”, “arrangement areas” and “arrangement ordinal levels” as elements, and specifically obtains “information contents” of “5”, “6”, and “7”, “arrangement areas” of “G”, “F”, and “B”, and “arrangement ordinal levels” of “1”, “6”, and “8” from the information arrangement region AR. Then, if the judged method is “No. 1” (YES at Step C3), the CPU 1 performs processing of changing “arrangement ordinal levels” to partial ranks (Step C4). In this case, “arrangement ordinal levels” of “1”, “6”, and “8” with respect to “information contents” of “5”, “6”, and “7” and “arrangement areas” of “G”, “F”, and “B” are changed to “1”, “2”, and “3”, respectively.

Also, when the judged type of the partial authentication method is “No. 2” or “No. 5” (YES at Step C5), the CPU 1 obtains “arrangement ordinal level” and “arrangement area” as elements relevant to partial-authentication reference information from the information arrangement region AR (Step C6). For example, in the case of FIG. 4, the CPU 1 obtains “arrangement areas” of “G”, “F”, and “B” and “arrangement ordinal levels” of “1”, “6”, and “8” from the information arrangement region AR. Then, if the judged method is “No. 2” (NO at Step C7), the CPU 1 performs processing of changing “arrangement ordinal levels” to partial ranks (Step C4).

Similarly, when the judged type of the partial authentication method is “No. 3” or “No. 6” (YES at Step C8), the CPU 1 obtains “arrangement ordinal level” and “information content” as elements relevant to partial-authentication reference information from the information arrangement region AR (Step C9). For example, in the case of FIG. 4, the CPU 1 obtains “information contents” of “5”, “6”, and “7” and “arrangement ordinal levels” of “1”, “6”, and “8”.

Then, when the judged method is “No. 3” (NO at Step C11), the CPU 1 performs processing of changing “arrangement ordinal levels” to partial ranks (Step C4). When the judged type of the partial authentication method is “No. 7” (NO at step C8), the CPU 1 obtains “arrangement area” and “information content” as elements relevant to partial-authentication reference information from the information arrangement region AR (Step C10).

As described above, the CPU 1 obtains the partial-authentication authentication information from the information arrangement memory 3 d according to the type of the partial authentication method (Step B23 of FIG. 9). Then, the CPU 1 matches and compares each piece of the partial-authentication authentication information obtained from the information arrangement memory 3 d and each piece of the partial-authentication reference information obtained from the partial authentication region 3 c 3 (Step B25).

As a result, the CPU 1 judges whether each piece of the partial-authentication authentication information respectively coincides with each piece of the partial-authentication reference information, that is, whether all pieces of the partial-authentication authentication information coincide with the partial-authentication reference information (Step B26). As a result of partial authentication, when it is detected that even one piece does not coincide with the partial-authentication reference information (NO at Step B26), the CPU 1 takes the authentication result as authentication NG, and exits the flows of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. Also, as a result of partial authentication, when all pieces coincide with the partial-authentication reference information (YES at Step B26), the CPU 1 judges authentication OK in partial authentication even though the result of overall authentication is authentication NG, and exits the flows of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9.

For example, when the settings of the partial authentication region 3 c 3 are as depicted in FIG. 4, when the type of the partial authentication method is “No. 1”, authentication OK is judged if the numerical value of “5” is initially arranged in the arrangement area G, the numerical value of “6” is next arranged in the arrangement area F, and the numerical value of “7” is lastly arranged in the arrangement area B.

Also, when the type of the partial authentication method is “No. 2”, regardless of “information content”, authentication OK is judged if any information is initially arranged in the arrangement area G, any other information is next arranged in the arrangement area F, and any other information is lastly arranged in the arrangement area B. When the type of the partial authentication method is “No. 3”, regardless of “arrangement area”, authentication OK is judged if the numerical value of “5” is initially arranged, the numerical value of “6” is next arranged, and the numerical value of “7” is lastly arranged.

In the case of FIG. 4, “partial rank” is taken as an example of “arrangement ordinal level” of the partial authentication region 3 c 3. In the case of “overall rank”, for example, “arrangement ordinal level (1)”, “arrangement ordinal level (6)”, and “arrangement ordinal level (8)” are set as “overall ranks”. If the type of the partial authentication method is “No. 4”, authentication OK is judged if the numerical value of “5” is firstly arranged in the arrangement area G, the numerical value of “6” is sixthly arranged in the arrangement area F, and the numerical value of “7” is eighthly arranged in the arrangement area B, in the authentication information with a nine-digits structure as a whole.

Similarly, when the type of the partial authentication method is “No. 5”, regardless of “information content”, authentication OK is judged if any information is arranged in the firstly arrangement area G, any other information is sixthly arranged in the arrangement area F, and any other information is eighthly arranged in the arrangement area B. When the type of the partial authentication method is “No. 6”, regardless of “arrangement area”, authentication OK is judged if the numerical value of “5” is firstly arranged, the numerical value of “6” is sixthly arranged, and the numerical value of “7” is eighthly arranged.

On the other hand, when the type of the partial authentication method is “No. 7”, regardless of “arrangement ordinal level”, authentication OK is judged if the numerical value of “5” is arranged in the arrangement area G, the numerical value of “6” is arranged in the arrangement area F, and the numerical value of “7” is arranged in the arrangement area B.

As described above, in the present embodiment, in a state where an arrangement status of a specified portion in the information arrangement region AR is set in advance as partial-authentication reference information in the reference authentication information memory 3 c, when an operation of inputting and arranging authentication information in the information arrangement region AR is performed, the CPU 1 detects an arrangement status of a specified portion from an overall arrangement status in the information arrangement region AR, and performs, as partial authentication, processing of matching the detected arrangement status of the specified portion and the arrangement status of the specified portion set as partial-authentication reference information. As a result, even when lengthy authentication information is inputted and arranged in order to ensure high-level security, what is required is to memorize only a partial arrangement status. Accordingly, a user can input and arrange the authentication information without burden, and both security and operability can be satisfied.

When “arrangement area” and “arrangement ordinal level” are set as partial-authentication reference information, the arrangement status indicating in which area and at which ordinal level any information has been arranged as an arrangement status of the specified portion in the information arrangement region AR, is detected for partial authentication. Accordingly, all the user has to memorize is merely the arrangement status of “arrangement area” and “arrangement ordinal level” when inputting and arranging the authentication information, and whereby the user can input the authentication information without burden.

When three elements, that is, “arrangement area”, “arrangement ordinal level”, and “information content”, are set as authentication reference information, the arrangement status indicating which information content has been arranged as well as in which area and at which ordinal level the information has been arranged as an arrangement status of the specified portion in the information arrangement region AR, is detected for partial authentication. Accordingly, security can be more enhanced compared with the case of two elements. Even when one element is further added, the burden on the user is minimal.

When “information content” and “arrangement ordinal level” are set as partial-authentication reference information, the arrangement status indicating which information content has been arranged and at which ordinal level the information has been arranged as an arrangement status of the specified portion in the information arrangement region AR, is detected for partial authentication. Accordingly, all the user has to memorize is merely the arrangement status of “information content” and “arrangement ordinal level” when inputting and arranging the authentication information, and whereby the user can input the authentication information without burden.

As “arrangement ordinal level”, a partial rank can be set indicating an ordinal level of each target in an alignment of partial authentication targets of “information content” or “arrangement area”. Accordingly, all the user has to memorize is merely the arrangement ordinal levels of the partial authentication targets, and the burden on the user is minimal.

As “arrangement ordinal level”, an overall rank can be set indicating an ordinal level of each target in an alignment of a predetermined number (for example, 9 digits) of pieces of authentication information as a whole. Accordingly, the arrangement ordinal levels can be memorized as an overall flow, which is easy to remember.

When “information content” and “arrangement area” are set as partial-authentication reference information, the arrangement status indicating which information content has been arranged and in which area the information has been arranged as an arrangement status of the specified portion in the information arrangement region AR, is detected for partial authentication. Accordingly, all the user has to memorize is merely the arrangement status of “information content” and “arrangement area” when inputting and arranging the authentication information, and whereby the user can input the authentication information without burden.

Partial authentication starts on condition that the processing result of overall authentication is negative. As a result, even though authentication NG is judged in overall authentication, authentication OK can be judged in partial authentication without inputting all digits of the authentication information again. Accordingly, operability is significantly improved.

When information prohibited to be arranged in an area of the arrangement areas is arranged in the area, the entire input of the authentication information is judged as invalid. Accordingly, security is further improved.

Partial authentication is performed according to any partial authentication method selected in advance from among the plurality of types of partial authentication methods with different partial authentication methodologies. Accordingly, the use can select the best partial authentication method for the user in view of both of security and operability.

When inputting the authentication information, the user simply performs an operation of moving information in the information list region LT to the information arrangement region AR for arrangement. Therefore, it is reliable and easy to input the authentication information.

After the predetermined number of pieces of information forming the authentication information are arranged in the information arrangement area AR, the arrangement status is detected and authentication processing is performed. As a result, even if a third party steals a glance at or secretly photographs the contents of the information arrangement region AR at the stage of finishing arrangement of all pieces, the third party cannot know the arrangement ordinal levels.

In the above-described embodiment, partial authentication starts on condition that the processing result of overall authentication is negative. Alternatively, if authentication OK is judged as a result of partial authentication, overall authentication may be omitted.

In the above-described embodiment, the information arrangement region AR is in a three-by-three matrix structure. Alternatively, the size may be increased according to the number of digits of the authentication information. Also, the array shape is not limited to the matrix structure, and can be arbitrarily set. For example, a plurality of arrangement areas may be linearly or annularly arrayed.

In the above-described embodiment, each piece of information is selected from the information list region LT, and moved and arranged in the information arrangement region AR. Alternatively, the information may be arranged in the information arrangement region AR by an operation of a touch key (a software key) on the touch display section 5 or a press key (a hardware key) on a keyboard. Furthermore, the information may be arranged in the information arrangement region AR by an operation of inputting by handwriting in the arrangement area. Any inputting and arranging means can be used.

Also, in the above-described embodiment, one piece of information is arranged in one arrangement area in the information arrangement region AR. Alternatively, for example, two pieces of information may be inputted and arranged in one arrangement area each with a time delay, or two pieces of information may be inputted and arranged at the same time. In this case, the plurality of pieces of information inputted and arranged in one arrangement area may be displayed in parallel.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to a tablet terminal device as an authentication processing device. However, this is not limited thereto. The present invention may be applied to a portable telephone such as a smartphone, a personal computer, a PDA (a personal digital assistant), a digital camera, or a music player, or the like.

Still further, the “devices” or the “sections” described in the above-described embodiment are not required to be in a single housing and may be separated into a plurality of housings by function. In addition, the steps in the above-described flowcharts are not required to be processed in time-series, and may be processed in parallel, or individually and independently.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it is intended that the invention be not limited by any of the details of the description therein but includes all the embodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An authentication processing device which performs authentication processing, the authentication processing device comprising: a display screen configured to display a plurality of divided input areas; a memory which stores authentication reference information set in advance, the authentication reference information comprising: a predetermined number of the divided input areas that are a portion of the plurality of divided input areas, fewer than a total number of the plurality of divided input areas, set as specified input areas for a partial authentication operation by a user; and a specified order in which information is to be inputted on each of the predetermined number of the specified input areas; a user input associated with the display screen allowing the user to input information into the plurality of divided input areas during the partial authentication operation; and a control circuit configured to: detect an order of the information sequentially inputted on the predetermined number of the specified input areas, the information being sequentially input by the user via the user input; compare the detected order of the information sequentially inputted on the predetermined number of the specified input areas with the specified order of the authentication reference information set in advance, which results in a comparison performed by the control circuit that occurs based on the order of the information sequentially inputted on the specified input areas regardless of the specific information sequentially inputted on the specified input areas; and authenticate a validity of the partial authentication operation by the user, based on a result of the comparison.
 2. The authentication processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to authenticate the validity of the partial authentication operation by the user when, as a result of the comparison, the detected order of the information sequentially inputted on the predetermined number of specified input areas coincides with the specified order of the authentication reference information set in advance.
 3. The authentication processing device according to claim 1, wherein, on the display screen, a plurality of pieces of input information inputtable on the plurality of divided input areas and the plurality of divided input areas are displayed so as to be separated from each other, wherein each of the plurality of pieces of input information is moved and displayed while being sequentially designated on the plurality of divided input areas.
 4. The authentication processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to use only the predetermined number of the specified input areas as detection targets, regardless of an order of information input on input areas of the plurality of the divided input areas other than the predetermined number of the specified input areas.
 5. The authentication processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to authenticate the validity of the partial authentication operation by the user after information input into all of the plurality of the divided input areas has ended.
 6. A authenticating method in which a plurality of divided input areas are displayed on a display screen and in which a control circuit authenticates a validity of a partial authentication operation by a user, the authenticating method comprising: a setting step of setting in advance in a memory: a predetermined number of the divided input areas, that are a portion of the plurality of divided input areas fewer than a total number of the plurality of the divided input areas, that are specified input areas for the partial authentication operation; a specified order in which information is to be inputted on each of the predetermined number of the specified input areas; a detecting step with the control circuit of: detecting information sequentially inputted on each of the plurality of divided input areas by the user with a user input that is associated with the display; and detecting an order of the information sequentially inputted on the predetermined number of the specified input areas; a comparing step of comparing with the control circuit the detected order of the information sequentially inputted on the predetermined number of the specified input areas with the specified order set in advance in the setting step, which results in a comparison performed by the control circuit that occurs based on the order of the information sequentially inputted on the specified input areas regardless of the specific information sequentially inputted on the specified input areas; and an authenticating step of authenticating with the control circuit a validity of the partial authentication operation by the user, based on a result of the comparison in the comparing step.
 7. The authenticating method according to claim 6, wherein the authenticating step of authenticating the validity of the partial authentication operation comprises authenticating the validity of the partial authentication operation by the user when, as a result of the comparison, the detected order of the information inputted on the predetermined number of specified input areas detected in the detecting step coincides with the specified order set in advance in the setting step.
 8. The authenticating method according to claim 6, wherein the detecting step further comprises obtaining only the predetermined number of the specified input areas as detection targets regardless of an order of information input on input areas of the plurality of divided input areas other than the predetermined number of the specified input areas.
 9. The authenticating method according to claim 6, wherein the authenticating step of authenticating the validity of the partial authentication operation by the user comprises authenticating the validity of the partial authentication operation by the user after information input into all of the plurality of the divided input areas has ended.
 10. A authenticating method in which a plurality of divided input areas are displayed on a display screen and in which a control circuit authenticates a validity of a partial authentication operation by a user on each of the plurality of divided input areas, the authenticating method comprising: a storing step of storing in advance in a memory: a predetermined number of specified input areas that are a portion of the plurality of the divided input areas fewer than a total of the plurality of the divided input areas; and a specified order of information that is to be inputted on each of the predetermined number of specified input areas; a receiving step of the control circuit sequentially receiving information inputted on each of the plurality of the divided input areas by the user with a user input that is associated with the display; a temporarily storing step of temporarily storing in a memory an area designation order of the plurality of the divided input areas; and an authenticating step of: obtaining with the control circuit only an area designation order of the predetermined number of the specified input areas, regardless of the area designation order of input areas of the plurality of the divided input areas other than the predetermined number of the specified input areas and regardless of the information sequentially input on the specified input areas; and authenticating a validity of the partial authentication operation by the user, based on whether the obtained area designation order of the predetermined number of the specified input areas coincides with the specified order stored in advance in the memory.
 11. The authenticating method according to claim 10, wherein authenticating the validity of the partial authentication operation by the user comprises authenticating the validity of the partial authentication operation by the user after information input into all of the plurality of the divided input areas has ended.
 12. The authentication processing device according to claim 1 wherein the control circuit is configured to use only the predetermined number of the specified input areas as detection targets from among the plurality of the divided input areas for the partial authentication operation. 